What you need
- A Google TV / Android TV device.
- Arvio installed, with a profile created. Arvio is a free, open-source media hub for Android TV; you can get it from its GitHub page or from arvio.tv. The first time it opens it asks who is watching: create a local profile and you are set.
- WatchBridge TV: a 2-day free trial with no card, then €4.99 once. No subscription.
WatchBridge doesn't provide or host any content, and neither does Arvio. Arvio ships without movies, series or channels: you connect your own sources and subscriptions there. WatchBridge only opens the title in the app you already use.
Step by step
- Install WatchBridge TV. On Google TV, get it from Google Play. If you prefer the APK, follow the install guide.
- Turn it on. WatchBridge uses Android's Accessibility service in a narrow way: it only watches for clicks on the launcher's recommendation cards and ignores every other click. If the toggle switches itself off, see the troubleshooting guide.
- Pick Arvio. In WatchBridge's Settings open Open movies and series in and choose Arvio. You can change it any time, with no reinstall.
- Click a recommendation on the Google TV home screen. The exact title opens in Arvio.
What happens when you click
- Catch the click. WatchBridge sees the payload of the recommendation you selected, nothing else on screen.
- Identify the title. It is looked up on TMDB. Remakes and same-named sequels are not guessed: if two titles share an exact name, WatchBridge asks once and remembers your pick.
- Hand it off. Arvio supports links that identify a title by its TMDB id, so WatchBridge opens that exact title's page in Arvio, the one with the Play button. From there you choose a source in Arvio, as you always do.
Good to know
- Tested with Arvio 2.3 on Google TV, with movies and series. We have not tested Fire TV with Arvio yet.
- Arvio must be installed and have a profile. If it isn't installed, WatchBridge opens its page in the Play Store instead of failing silently.
- The Arvio build from Google Play and its beta are both detected.
- WatchBridge opens the title's page. Which source plays it is decided inside Arvio, with your own add-ons or servers.
If it doesn't work
- Arvio opens but lands on its profile screen. Create a profile in Arvio once; after that the recommendation opens the title.
- Nothing happens when you click a recommendation. Check that WatchBridge's Accessibility toggle is on, and see the troubleshooting guide.
- The title doesn't open. Update Arvio to its latest version: the links WatchBridge uses were checked against Arvio 2.3.
Independent tool. WatchBridge TV is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Arvio.
About WatchBridge TV
WatchBridge TV is the app behind this guide. Its headline feature: it opens Google TV recommendations straight in your player (Nuvio, Stremio, Plex, Jellyfin, WuPlay, Wholphin or Arvio), on the exact title, instead of in the app the recommendation came from. It also includes an IPTV guide for your own list (M3U, Xtream Codes or Stalker portal) with a live guide, sports events, multiview, recordings and voice search. It includes no channels or content: you bring your own list and your own apps. See how it works or watch the full video tour. Free 2-day trial, no card.